James Scott Burns
Agency patch
Trooper

James Scott Burns

Felonious
End of Watch April 29, 2008
Age 39
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 156 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Trooper James Burns was shot and killed following a vehicle pursuit in Marion County, Texas, at approximately 8:00 pm.

The suspect stopped his vehicle, exited, and opened fire on Trooper Burns with a shotgun before he was even able to unlatch his seatbelt.

A citizen used Trooper Burns' radio to inform dispatchers that he had been shot near the intersection of Farm-to-Market Road 1969 and Farm-to-Market Road 729. The suspect fled the scene and committed suicide two days later.

Trooper Burns had served with the Texas Department of Public Safety for five years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, 6-month-old daughter, parents, and two brothers.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Burns gave the Texas Department of Public Safety 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Texas. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Burns.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Highway Patrol
Location Austin, Travis County, TX
Platform Identity tdpsthp.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 29, 2008
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 39
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Shotgun; 20 gauge

The Sacrifice · Felonious

James is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 2008, 65 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 113th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 39. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. James had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun; 20 gauge, in 0% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol has 96 officers remembered here, James among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Trooper James Scott Burns

Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol · End of Watch April 29, 2008

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 53-E

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